Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had - IELTS Speaking Cue Card

In the IELTS Speaking Part 2, you must speak on a certain topic for two minutes, and you will also be given a minute to prepare for your answer. 

This part of the Speaking test evaluates your ability to organize your ideas coherently on the given topics, like this one on ‘Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had.’ You will have to properly present your ideas by using the perfect words and grammar, ranging from simple to advanced. 

So, let us not delay any longer and start with the IELTS Speaking Part 2 question about describing a volunteering experience you have had!

Question

Band 8 Sample Answer - Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had 

• Why did you volunteer?

Since childhood, I have been quite active in volunteering and outdoor activities. From school to college and beyond, I have participated in various community projects that I felt were important for society, as well as the development of an individual personality. So, today I am going to talk about one of my initial experiences at school.

• What was it?
• Where was it?

When I was in the seventh grade, interested students of the class were taken to an orphanage on the weekend. This organization, named Asha, was 10 km away from our school and was managed by Catholic nuns. Preparations began a week ago as we began collecting clothes, food, funding and gifts for the children. I even suggested paying homage to the nuns to honour their dedication and hard work, which was accepted gracefully by all the members. 

On D-day, we met at school early in the morning and started our hike. We were chattering excitedly on the way, and it seemed the distance was quite small. We were given a warm welcome by all the members. Initially, we began to introduce ourselves and interact with the children to break the ice. As the day proceeded, we enjoyed some performances prepared by them and also engaged in games. After we had lunch, we handed the clothes, funding and food to the people in charge while the gifts were distributed as prizes for the games. 

• How did you feel about it?

I have been to some orphanages before, but this one was special because it catered to tribal children who had either lost their parents or had been cast away by their families. It was an eventful day, and I felt proud to have participated in an endeavour that made these people feel special and loved. This motivated me to continue my volunteer work till now.

Band 9 Sample Answer - Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had

• What was it?
• Where was it?

When I was in college, I got the opportunity to volunteer for an NGO school, and I can say that this experience made an indelible impression on me. This volunteering experience was at Paathshala Foundation Society in Delhi. This foundation helps to empower underprivileged children by providing them with education, food, and other necessities. Four teachers and a few volunteers predominantly run this foundation.

Prior to this, I had participated in various voluntary activities. One was for elderly adults, and I used to purchase food and medicines for them. The other one was for our society, in which we cleaned the commonly used passages.

• Why did you volunteer?
• How did you feel about it?

Anyway, I worked with this organization for two years straight. Initially, I was assigned to conduct English and greeting lessons. Also, I conducted various activities for kids, such as painting, storytelling, and movie watching. Instead of just teaching, I also supported the organization by collecting used clothes and household items from various people and distributing them. It was a delightful experience to be part of the development of underprivileged children. I felt elated because it allowed me to spread laughter and knowledge among some innocent children, which was just priceless. My voluntary work helped the organization to increase the marks of children by 30%. This kind of appreciation pushed me to get more involved in volunteer work.

Vocabulary to Answer the “Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had” IELTS Cue

• Predominantly: mainly or mostly
• Eg: Predominantly, the rural parts of India are involved in agricultural activities.
• Elated: excited or happy
• Eg: Meeting my friends after almost a decade made me elated.
• Delightful: something that is charming
• Eg: The snow-covered mountains of Himachal look delightful in winter.
• Underprivileged: someone who has fewer opportunities, rights or money
• Eg: India has a huge number of underprivileged people.
• Indelible: something that cannot be erased or washed
• Eg: My trip to the USA left an indelible impression on my family.

In conclusion, with the perfect preparation techniques, structure, and continuous practice, you would be able to build familiarity with some common topics in the Speaking Section. It is crucial to remain calm in order to prepare a structure while elaborating on the same with personal insights to achieve a higher IELTS Band Score! 

Also check:

• IELTS Speaking preparation tips
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• IELTS Speaking Recent Actual Tests with Suggested Answers for IELTS 2025
• 50 IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics; Questions with Answers